Manchester City overcame Newcastle challenge to lessen the gap on Arsenal and add heat on Arsenal.
Newcastle arrived with the best defense in the division. On the other hand, Manchester City continued to apply pressure on Arsenal. City’s winger, Phil Foden continued his renaissance after scoring twice in midweek and broke the deadlock with a fine solo goal in the 15th minute.
Foden glide past at least three Newcastle defenders before Sven Botman diverted his close-range shot beyond Nick Pope. “It was a brilliant action from Phil”. Guardiola praised the lad after the match.
In between, there wwas wave after wave of City attack. Jamaal Lascelles blocked from Erling Haaland and Botman denying the 22-year-old Foden another before Haaland headed woefully wide when he looked primed to score.
Newcastle had their moments at the second half and a triple change from Howe on the 62nd minute almost had an instant impact. Sean Longstaff’s shot was blocked and Callum Wilson miscude in the first hald before subs Joe Willock and Alexander Isak threatened after the break.
But it was a City change that actually made the difference. Bernardo Silva converted within two minutes and 10 seconds after steping onto the pitch. Haaland shuttled the ball onto him and the Portuguese’s touch and finish will go down as City’s 100th premier League goal.
A heavyweight clash between Haaland and Dan Burn had the fans on their feet soon after. The Norwegian stepped in after the latest instance of rough treatment for Jack Grealish but the fight fizzled out of Newcastle’s response from then on.
To compound their problems, midfielder Joelinton is facing a two-game ban after receiving his 10th yellow card of the season, but their big issue is up top and hitting the net. Something Premier League top scorers Man City are finding easy at the moment.
Pep Guardiola hailed the incredibly good results in a tricky game. He said, “We played a really good first half and after the game went up and down. We put Bernarfo on to make our possessions longer. We needed to keep more of the ball. It’s part of his intuition to do high pressing”.
“An iincredibly good result for us because it was a tricky game. Now we have three games in different competitions before the international break which will define our season.”
Newcastle had been unbeaten in ther last eight away games. But their poor record at Man City continues. The side has never won in the league at this Stadium and, less than a week on from their Carabao Cup final defeat by Man united, their 14th Premier League loss on the spin at Etihad has dealt a blow to their top-four hopes.
Regardless, Newcastle remain four points off fourth-place Tottenham with two games in hand. But with no win in their last five Premier League games, and just two goals in those fixtures, the worry for boss Eddie Howe will be his side’s wastefulness in front of goal is causing them to drop away.